2022 Kia Sportage vs 2021 Kia Seltos

The 2021 Kia Seltos, despite being a subcompact SUV, boasted a big-car feel. It had an upright layout and provided a commanding view of the road, giving drivers an enhanced sense of control. The headlight design, although busy, seamlessly flowed into the grille, complementing the overall style. The lower front bumper had an aggressive approach angle, hinting at an off-road capability, even though the Seltos wasn't built for such adventures. The two-tone roof design aligned with current trends, adding a sense of modernity. The red circles around the wheel centers suggested its dynamic on-road performance. Inside, its straightforward and intuitive design borrowed influences from more upscale brands like Audi, featuring clean lines and seamlessly integrated tech. The LCD screen for climate controls maintained a visual symmetry with the touchscreen, and the right-side handle of the tray below the center stack emphasized its sporty and utilitarian nature.

On the 2022 Kia Sportage, the design was polarizing. While the tiger-nose grille design worked on other Kia models, it appeared less fitting on the Sportage. The oversized headlights and chrome trim on the grille gave it a quirky, almost fake mustache-like appearance. However, Kia nailed other design elements. The four-dot running light signature resembled the Porsche Macan, and the back door's symmetry had Volkswagen influences, exuding a stylish essence. With 19-inch wheels pushed to the corners, it had perfect proportions and a planted stance. The interior drew from Germanic design cues, featuring a black dashboard with metallic accents and simple white markings on a black background. The buttons and knobs facilitated easy control of functions, lending the SUV a sophisticated and almost luxurious feel.

The 2021 Kia Seltos offered a choice between two engine options. The standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produced 146 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. Although sufficient for city driving, it lagged at higher speeds and on highways. The more compelling option was the turbocharged 1.6-liter engine delivering 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This engine provided brisk acceleration, making highway merges and passing maneuvers a breeze. The Seltos also boasted a Drive Mode dial with Normal, Sport, and Smart modes. Sport Mode heightened throttle response and steering weight, aligning the handling with its acceleration capabilities. Despite the upright design and 7.3 inches of ground clearance, the Seltos showed minimal body roll and handled nimbly around turns, offering a smooth ride even on uneven surfaces.

For the 2022 Kia Sportage, most trims came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine generating 181 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. This engine was adequate but unremarkable. The real star was the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine in the SX Turbo, which delivered an impressive 240 hp (237 hp with AWD) and 260 lb-ft of torque, providing ample power for various driving conditions. Power was transmitted through a six-speed automatic transmission, with an optional Dynamax all-wheel-drive system featuring a locking center differential. The Sportage SX Turbo offered quick acceleration and a low maximum torque available from 1,450 rpm to 3,500 rpm, giving it a sudden burst of power. Equipped with a sophisticated suspension and larger brakes, the Sportage provided a smooth and compliant ride. It handled turns well but exhibited some body roll and lateral movements over rough pavement. It had a sporty feel up to a certain limit, though it could benefit from sharper steering and better tire grip.

The 2021 Kia Seltos excelled in cargo space, providing 26.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and expanding to 62.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, making it one of the most spacious subcompact SUVs available and surpassing even some compact SUVs. The SX Turbo trim included a hard cargo cover doubling as a tray for small items. Inside, abundant cubby spaces and compartments in both rows, with large door cubbies, bottle holders, and a roomy center console.

In comparison, the 2022 Kia Sportage's interior was remarkably roomy despite being on the smaller side of the compact crossover spectrum. Front-seat occupants enjoyed perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching. The driver's seat offered ten-way power adjustments, while the front passenger seat received an eight-way power adjustment, a rarity in this class. The SX Turbo's front seats were heated and ventilated, adding to the comfort. The rear seat space was generous, with ample legroom, air-conditioning vents, and a USB charging port for rear passengers. However, the Sportage lagged in cargo capacity, with only 30.7 cubic feet behind the back seat and a maximum of 60.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, falling short of leaders like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The smart liftgate technology added a layer of convenience for accessing the cargo area.

The tech features of the 2021 Kia Seltos were commendable. The base S trim included a 3.5-inch TFT digital screen in the instrument panel and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The SX Turbo trim upgraded to a Bose premium sound system, a 7-inch digital display screen, and a substantial 10.25-inch touchscreen which could display Apple CarPlay/Android Auto alongside other information like radio or climate data. However, some quirks existed, such as the system defaulting to phone music when plugged in via USB and only one of the two USB ports allowing data connection.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Most trims also offered UVO Link connected services and satellite radio, with the SX Turbo boasting wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system with Clari-Fi music restoration technology. While the system was user-friendly with physical knobs for volume and tuning, the 8-inch screen seemed small compared to contemporary standards, and the technological sophistication lagged behind, missing features like a WiFi hotspot and advanced voice recognition.

In terms of safety, the 2021 Kia Seltos came with front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and child-seat anchor latches as standard. Except for the base LX trim, all others included a suite of driver-assistance features like forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. The EX trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX trim included adaptive cruise control and cyclist detection.

The 2022 Kia Sportage provided comprehensive safety features across all trims, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver monitoring system. Higher trims or packages added blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning. The SX Turbo added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. According to crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, the Sportage was safe, with the SX Turbo securing an Acceptable headlight rating, earning it an IIHS Top Safety Pick accolade.